US President Donald Trump has triggered a political row by claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to "mediate on Kashmir. In a joint press conference with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday, Mr Trump had said, "If I can help, I would love to be a mediator". The Foreign Ministry immediately put out a strong denial, emphasising that "no such request has been made" by PM Modi. Hours after Donald Trump's remark, the US State Department, in damage control mode, said Kashmir is a bilateral issue concerning Islamabad and New Delhi and that Washington is "ready to assist". An influential Democratic Congressman also apologised to India's US envoy for Mr Trump's "embarrassing" remarks on Kashmir, while several others came out in support of New Delhi's established stand against any third-party role on the issue. "I just apologised to Indian Ambassador Harsh Shringla for Trump's amateurish and embarrassing mistake," Congressman Brad Sherman tweeted hours after Donald Trump's stunning claim.
Here are the developments after Donald Trump's Kashmir remark:
It has been our consistent stand that #Kashmir has always been a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. It is shocking to hear #POTUS offering to mediate on Kashmir on a request by our prime minister!
- Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) July 23, 2019
Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu in Rajya Sabha on 'statement of US President Trump that PM Modi had asked Trump to mediate in Kashmir issue': It is a national issue. Country's unity, integrity & national interest is involved, we should be seen speaking in one voice. pic.twitter.com/rS86MYRd8L
- ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
Now, 'Whitehouse' puts up @POTUS assertion in 'black & white' that PM Modi asked him to 'mediate on Kashmir'!
- Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) July 23, 2019
When will our PM 'wake up' & call the bluff if President Trump is lying?
Or
Did PM Modi ask @POTUS to mediate?https://t.co/pFV8gnl6YQ
I just apologized to Indian Ambassador @HarshShringla for Trump's amateurish and embarrassing mistake. 2/2https://t.co/EjcPaNVM0M
- Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) July 22, 2019